Driving attachment for slicing machines



April 3, 1956 A. w. LUNDELL 2,740,442

DRIVING ATTACHMENT FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllll. 'IIIIIIIIIIIIII.'II'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII HI u! III q:

April 3, 1956 A. w. LUNDELL 2,740,442

DRIVING ATTACHMENT FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o (N T 0 c; R Q Q m k n I .IHHII l.

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4' ATTORNEY April 3, 1956 A. w. LUNDELL DRIVING ATTACHMENT FOR SLICING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Shet :5

Filed Dec. 9, 1953 km mxw INVENTOR. fi/r/vozo 41/ 1; BY jaw DRIVING ATTACHR'HENT FER LZCIN-G MAfIHLJES Arnold W. Luntlell, Eyram, Conan, assi :or to Globe Slicing Machine Co., inc Stamford, Cc n., a corporation of New York Application December 1953, Serial No. 397,139 3 Claims. (Cl. 146-lh2) This invention relates to slicing machines in general and more especially to slicing machines such as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,665,726 issued January 12, 1954, and No. 2,665,531 issued January 12, 1954.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved slicing machine of the type disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending applications for patent which can readily be converted from manual to power operation, which operation will contemplate a to and fro movement as heretofore, and in addition also effect a gradual change in speed when changing the direction of movement of the chute in turn positively to eliminate any undue vibrations, jolts or the like, objectionable not only from the standpoint of noise and injury to the machine, but also objectionable in that the slices being out are thereby frequently tossed about in an unorderly fashion, calling for a rearrangement of the slices in an orderly fashion after they have been cut.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is also aimed to provide an attachment for readily converting into a power operated slicing machine a manually operated slicing machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending applications for patent by the unskilled me.- chanic, and which attachment after once having been connected can readily be disconnected and in turn again be connected for manual or power operation at the will of the attendant requiring a minimum amount of time and effort.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a power actuation for the chute of a slicing magradual change in speed when changing the direction of movement of the chute to eliminate the possible tossing.

of the product to be cut in the chute, which tossing might cause an uneven cut to be effected, and also to eliminate any undue vibrations, jolts or the like, objectionable not only from the standpoint of noise and injury to the machine, but also objectionable in that slices being cut are thereby frequently tossed about in an unorderly fashion when released by the knife.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the present invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a slicing machine equipped with the improved attachment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the cover for the attachment, the rotary knife, themotor for the rotary knife, and gauge plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing a link and the seat therefor in a portion of the main casing broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view of a modification.

The slicing machine here shown is typical of the conventional gravity feed slicing machine shown in the aforesaid co=pending patent applications having a main frame 1 including a bracket 2 extending upwardly and having journalled'therein the shaft 3 at an oblique angle to the atent chute 10.

2,740,442 Fatented Apr. 3, 1956 vertical at the upper .end of which is rotatably mounted the rotary knife '4 which is 'drivingly connected todhe motor 5, which motor in turn is connected to the control switch 6 by the conductors 7 and 18 substantially inline with the operating plane .of the cutting edge of they knife 4. At an oblique angle to the vertical there is provided the lower plate 9 of-the chute.10 for carrying the-meat or productto be cut toand from the cutting edge of the knife v4. The chute 10 is mounted on the bracket 11, whichin turn has an arm 12 extending downoutsideof the raised portion 13 of the main frame 1. Thisann 12 in turn has an extension 14 which extends through the raised portion 13 of the frame 1 and is connectedto the hanger 15 which is 'slidably mounted onthe-two parallel shafts 16 and 17, respectively. The extension .14,'.see Fig. 1, travels to and fro throughthe opening '18formed in the outer wall of the raisedportion 13.

For manually operating the chute '10 to andfrom the cutting edge of the knife-4, there is provided the upwardly extending handle19 which is disposed to the frontrofthe In other words, the operatorgenerally stands facing the end of the machine where the switch-6 is located and in manual operation grasps the handlelQ-With his right hand and moves the chute '10 to and from the cutting edge of the knife 4 with his left hand free when desired to remove the portion of slices cut as they are being cut.

The attachment'now to be described constitutes the main feature of the present invention.

The extension or chute and 12 of the bracket ll of: the chute 10 of the conventional machine when adapted .for use with this attachment, see Fig. 4, is provided with a recess or seat 20 having a stud or projection '21 connected to the same and having an external threaded portion 22 formed thereon to receive the knurled nut 23illustrated in Fig. 3. The recess 20 has shoulders spaced from the stud 21 corresponding to the width of the link 24 now. to

be described. The link 24 having the head 25 with the jaw or laterally open recess 26 receding from-one edge of said link 24 is provided with the vertically extending slot or opening 27 in its shank 28, see Fig. 4. This link 24 is provided to connect the extension 12 to the acuating mech anism now to be described.

The acuating mechanism consists essentially of two shafts 29 connected to, and extending outwardly from, the outer wall of the raised portion 13 on which the hubs 30 and 31 are journalled. The hub 30 in turn has-fixed thereon the sprocket wheel 32, and the hub 31 hasfiited thereon not only the small sprocketwheel 33, but also" the large sprocketwheel 34.- The large sprocket wheels 32 and 34 are drivingly connected to one anotherby the sprocket chain 35 which has outwardly extending from one of its links the projection 36 to travel inthe slot 27 of the link 24' when the link 24 is connected to the extension 12 as shown in Fig.3. The smallsprocket wheel 33 i s in turn connected to the still smaller-sprocket wheel 37 bythe sprocket chain 38. The sprocket wheel37 is in turn drivingly connected to the transmission 39 of'the motor 40 which is connected to the control switch 41 by the conduits 42 and- 4 3, see the lowerleft hand portion of Fig.3.

When the sprocket wheels 32 and 34 are'approximately three inches in diameter and their movement is regulated to effect twenty-five to forty complete to and fro movements per minute, then it will be found that as'the chute 1 0 approaches the ends of its strokes it will gradually come to rest, and in turn gradually increase iii-speed as it starts its strokes. This control is extremely important with regard t'oslicing machines, not only due to the'fact that the opera'ting noise of thetnachineis thereby materially reduced, the"wear and tear on the machine in 'turn materially reduced, but'the slices protectcd'from being flipped in a disorderly arrangement as they leave the cutting edge of the knife.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that when the attendant foresees a group of small orders, he may wish to dispense with the power driven actuation of the machine and prefer :to operate the machine manually. For this purpose it will only be necessary for him to free the knurled nut 23 and then withdraw the link 24 from the recess 20 and from the projection 36, when the chute 10 will be free again to be driven manually in the conventional way by engaging the handle 19.

When the power driven mechanism is disconnected of course the switch '41 will also be actuated to shut off the motor 40. I

The cover or casing for the power. driven connection is also unique. Preferably as shown in Fig. 3, a plate 44 extends from the outer wall of the raised portion 13 just below the opening 18 in a horizontal direction, this plate 44 being connected to the outer face of the raised portion 13 by the flange 45; The plate 44, see Fig. 3, extends above the chain 35 but clears the link 24. in length it extends well over both sprocket wheels 32 and 34 to constitute an upper wall or closure for the cover casing 46. This cover casing has end walls 47 and 147, a main side wall 48 and an inwardly extending flange 49 extending inwardly from the wall 48 below the link 24 and the chain 35. The rear end wall 147, Fig. 1, similar to the front end wall 47 of the cover casing 46 continues into the side wall 50 parallel to the side wall 48.and extending along the sprocket chain 38 and motor 40. This rear side wall 50 extends above the side wall 48 and has an inclined upper wall Slextending from the side wall 50 to the raised portion 13. The front end wall 47 has a flange 52 extending parallel, to the sidewall 48 and provided with screw openings to receive the screws 53 and 54 to fit into the screw openings 55 and 56 formed in the .raised portion 13. The inclined wall 51 in turn is also provided with a flange 57 which is provided with a screw 58 to extend into the screw opening 59 formed in the raised portion 13. The side wall 50 in turn also has a rear wall, not shown, and a top wall 60 enclosing the motor 40. By means of the screws 53, 54 and 58 the cover casing 46 is connected to the raised portion 13 and thus completely encloses the sprocket wheels 32, 34, 37 and motor 40 when the attachment is secured to the raised portion 13.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that the conventional manually operated slicing machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid. co-pending applications can be readily converted to a power driven slicing machine with a minimum amount of alteration in the conventional slicing machine, as an instance, the openings for the shafts 29 of the sprocket wheels 32 and 34, the recess in the arm 12,

the opening for the projection 21 and the screw openings 55, 56 and 59 for the screws 53, 54 and 58, respectively. In turn, after the attachment has been secured in place with the cover casing 46, after the switch 6 has been actuated to cause the motor to rotate the knife 4, and

the product to be out has been placed in the chute 10, the switch 41 may be actuated to cause the chute to be moved to and from the cutting edge of the knife 4.

On the other hand, when it is desired to gain access to the power drive from the chute 10, it is only necessary to remove the screws 53, 54 and 58 in order to remove the cover casing 46. I

Although the horse power of the motor 40 may vary without departing from the general spirit of the invention,

-- it may be observed that for the conventional retail butcher shop, delicatessen store or supermarket, excellent results have been achieved when a motor of one-twentieth horse power is selected and the diameter of the sprocket wheels 32 and 34 approximates three inches, as aforesaid.

Thevalue of the shoulders on either side of the recess will be apparent when consideration is taken of the fact that the load in cutting will-vary depending upon the type of meat to be cut and the position of the projection 36 in the slot 27. Here attention is called to the fact that the minimum load carrying force transmitted to these shoulders occurs when the link 24 cooperates with the projection 36 while it appears in the lower span of the chain between the sprocket Wheels 32 and 34. The shoulders adjacent the recess 20 therefore materially supplement the knurled nut 23 in anchoring the link 24 in position to carry the load transmitted to the link 24.

When access is not necessary to the power drive and the wall 61 of the cover casing 62 as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 5 is spaced from the free edge of the upon enable the chute 10 to be operated manually without removing the cover casing 62 from the. raised portion 13.

It is obvious that various changes and modificationsimay be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. Iclaim:

l. The attachment for the main frame of a slicing machine having a power driven knife and a chute having an exposed end and reciprocably mounted on said framefor transporting the product to be sliced to and from said knife, which attachment is characterized by a power driven unit including an electric motor attached to said frame, an endless chain operatively connected to said frame and to saidmotor, having its spans disposed in alinement with said chute end, astud extending from said chain transverse to the path of movementof said chain, a link having a slot slidablyreceiving said stud transverse to the path of movement of said chain and extending substantially parallel to said spans and to said chute end, means including lateral shoulders on said chute end engaging the edges, of said link anchoring said link to said chute end against angular displacemerit relative to said stud, and means operatively associated with said chute end and said link lockingsaid link to said chute end and in operative relation to said anchoring means to enable said chute to be actuated to and fro with said stud. V

2. The attachment as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchoring means is characterized by a projection extending from said chute end and havingan external thread at the outer end thereof, there being a recess receding from one edge of the upper end of said link receiving said projection, and said locking means-consists of a nut screw threadedly connected by said external thread to said projection.

3. The attachment as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchoring means is characterized by a projection extending from said chute end and having an external thread at the outer end thereof, there being a first recess receding from one edge of the upper end of said-link receiving said projection, and there being a second recess in said chute end having said lateral shoulders spaced from said projection, and said locking means-consists of a nut screw threadedly connected by said external thread to said projection anchoring said link on said stud and between said shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 

